GREENE? 


a 


ftft  u .- 


HAPPY    DAYS 


HAMPTON 


AND 


OTHER    POEMS. 


AELLA  GREENE, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  RHYMES  OF  YANKEE  LAND.1 


SPRINGFIELD: 

GILL    &     HAYES. 

1872. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1872,  by 

AELLA   GREENE, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


CLARK    W.    DRYAN   *    COMPANY, 

BLECTROTYPBRS,    PRINTERS    AND    BINDERS, 

SPRINGFIELD,    MASS. 


TO 


J)R.  J.  -CJ.  HOLLAND, 


AND   THE    NOBLE   MEN   AND   WOMEN    INTO   WHOSE   SOCIETY    I 
HAVE    BEEN    LED   BY   FOLLOWING    HIS   TEACHINGS, 

I    Dedicate 
"HAPPY   DAYS   AT   HAMPTON," 

WISHING  IT  MORE  ABLY  PORTRAYED  THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  TRUE 

CHIVALRY   WHICH    HE   AND   THEY   ILLUSTRATE   SO 

WELL    BY   THEIR   LIVES. 


1823040 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

INTRODUCTION,  .        .         .11 


PART  FIRST.— HAMPTON: 

A  WELCOME  FUNERAL,          .         .        .        .  15 

THE  GROUP, 18 

PART  SECOND.— JAMESON'S  STORY: 

THE  WAYNES,       .......     20 

WAR  DAYS  COME, 23 

"Do  THOU,  MY  HARRY," 24 

COLONEL  GOODMAN  AND  His  MEN,     .        .        .26 
IN  GOODMAN'S  TENT,    .         .        .         .        .        .29 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

GOODMAN  SPEAKS  TO  STERNMAN,         .         .         -30 
A  MEMORABLE  DRESS  PARADE,    .         .         .         -35 

THE  FIGHT  AT  SUNSET, 36 

"AND  WITH  HIS  MUSKET  EARNED  A  SWORD,"     .     37 

HEAVEN'S  BEST  PLAN, 39 

A  TYRANT'S  GRAVE,     .         .         .         .         .         .40 

THE  EFFECT, 41 


PART  THIRD.— GOODMAN  TO  THE  GROUP : 

"  EACH  PLAN  SUCCEEDS,"      .....  43 

TEMPERANCE  AT  HAMPTON, 44 

A  SCHOOL  ON  THE  TAVERN  SITE,         .         .         -47 

GOOD  NIGHT, 49 

PART  FOURTH.— AT  THE  THANKSGIVING: 

THE  FACTORIES 52 

THE  HAMPTON  PAPER, 54 


CONTENTS.  Vii 

PAGE. 

A  CHURCH  AND  A  LODGE,  .        .        .        .        -55 

WITH  ALL  THESE  HONORS, 56 

MRS.  JOHN  GOODMAN,          .         .         .         .         -58 

BREAD  ON  THE  WATERS, 60 

"  WITH  CIRCUMSPECTION,  LET  Us,  Now,"  .           .     64 
WHEN  GOODMAN  DIES," 65 


OUR  YANKEE  LAND, 69 

LOCAL  LINES: 

THE  DEAD  DOHERTY, 75 

"  SAM'S  "  PAPER, 78 

OUR  CONDUCTORS, 82 

THE  "  RIVER  ROAD," 85 

SUMMER   PLACES: 

BARRINGTON £9 


vill  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

TlLDEN, 91 

UP  THE  PASSUMPSIC 93 

"ISRAEL'S  RIVER," 95 

THE  AMMONOOSUC 97 


HAPPY  DAYS  AT  HAMPTON. 


INTRODUCTION. 

F    Hampton's  noble-hearted  men, 
Theme  worthy  song  of  better  pen, 
The  story  is  ;    and  most  I  tell 
How  Goodman  lived  so  grand  and  well, 
And  taught,  by  practice  and  by  speech, 
Important  truth  to  live  and  teach: 
"It  bringeth  bliss  to  bless  the  sad; 
And  saveth  us  to  save  the  bad ; 
Dispensing  riches  brings  us  wealth  ; 
Aid  to  the  sick  insures  our  health  ; 
More  than  ourselves  demand  our  care, 
For  we  our  brothers'  keepers  are." 
In  Hampton  this  John  Goodman,  best 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

Of  all  the  men  who  Hampton  blest, 

Serenely  lived,  with  honors  high, 

A  happy  home,  and  happy  sky. 

Though  known  in  youth  to  want  and  pain, 

He  made  his  griefs  his  richest  gain, 

And  by  his  graces,  grit  and  skill, 

Successful  climbed  life's  sunny  hill  ; 

Then  made  and  followed  out  a  plan, 

Always  to  bless  his  fellow  man  ; 

Remembering  bread  on  waters  cast 

Returns  again,  increased,  at  last. 

He  often  found  the  days  were  few 

Ere  he  attested  Scripture  true  ; 

His  kindness  found,  redoubled,  given 

Into  his  hands,  as  if  from  heaven. 


PART    I. 


HAMPTON. 

HTMiE   place  is  fenced  from  eastern  snows; 

On  it  but  light  the  winter  blows  ; 
Hills  crowned  with  oak,  and  elm,  and  beech, 
Forbid  the  blasts  those  homes  to  reach. 
Far  up  a  glade  a  brook  begins; 
Through  fields  its  merry  progress  wins ; 
Then  plunges  down  a  cascade  bright, 
And,  onward  flowing,  gives  delight 
To  Hampton  glades  that  ever  bear 
Of  all  things  good  abundant  share. 


14  HAMPTON. 

A  flowery  mead  has  purling  springs, 
Where  singing  birds  do  dip  their  wings. 
Bright  streamlets  course  the  glades  along  ; 
S\veet  undertones  of  grander  song. 
At  times  a  breeze  blows  o'er  the  scene ; 
Then  far  forest  belt  and  coppice  green, 
And  gnarled  oaks  upon  the  hill, 
Yielding  as  giants  bend  their  will, 
Unite  with  rill,  and  spring,  and  bird, 
In  hymn  as  grand  as  ear  has  heard. 
Beyond  the  falls  the  village  good 
Extends  a  mile  to  belt  of  wood 
That  crowns  an  unpretending  hill; 
And  dwellings  there,  and  busy  mill, 
And  church,  and  school,  and  village  stores ; 
Fragrant  of  cattle  and  of  chores, 
The  barns  ;  indeed,  the  village  all 


HAMPTON.  15 

Is  shaded  well  with  maples  tall, 
And  beech,  and  birch,  and  "button-ball." 
The  grove  upon  the  gentle  hill 
Has  mossy  spring  and  gurgling  rill, 
And  rocks,  and  knoll,  and  pleasant  dell, 
And  so  it  is  adapted  well 
For  squirrel  haunts,  and  haunts  of  birds, 
For  lovers'  walks  and  lovers'  words. 
And  now  as  in  the  days  of  old, 
Through  summer  heat  and  winter  cold ; 
In  greening  spring  and  autumn  brown, 
It  is  a  fine  New  England  town. 

A    WELCOME    FUNERAL. 

The  town  we  visit  on  a  day 
When  useless  dust  is  laid  away, 


1 6  HAMPTON. 

Of  one  for  whom  none  good  could  say ; 

The  parson  only  "  Let  us  pray  ! " 

Flint  Sternman  was  this  hard  man's  name  ; 

His  father's  cognomen  the  same. 

How  they  were  suffered  there  to  dwell 

Is  more  than  I  can  truly  tell. 

The  Hampton  saints  sought  well  a  cure, 

But  did  five  decades  Flint  endure  ; 

And  when  he  died  they  thanked  the  Lord 

For  good  fulfillment  of  His  word, 

That  wicked  men  from  earth  are  driven 

To  places  far  away  from  heaven. 

No  one  in  town  would  bearer  be 

"For  such  a  cruel  man  as  he." 

But  six  young  men  whom  he  oppressed, 

And  from  his  hatred  gave  no  rest, 

Who  forth  from  Hampton  went,  to  find, 


HAMPTON. 

As  luck  would  have  it,  fortune  kind, 
The  day  before  the  funeral  day, 
To  Hampton  came  a  call  to  pay  ; 
And,  being  in  a  pleasant  mood, 
Proposed  to  do  Flint's  memory  good. 
"Let  us  keep  Scripture,  now,"  they  said, 
"  Put  coals  of  kindness  on  his  head  ; 
As  he,  thank  God,  at  last  is  dead, 
Let's  kindly  bear  his  form  away 
And  close  our  hatred  with  the  day." 
In  corner  of  the  burial  ground 
They  put  him  deep,  and  raised  a  mound 
Of  gravel  o'er  his  cruel  head  ; 
And  set  a  slab  to  mark  his  bed. 
And  when  the  obsequies  were  over, 
Their  common  foe  "well  under  cover," 
These  likely  six  young  Hampton  men, 


1 8  HAMPTON. 

Who  had  to  Hampton  come  again, 
Assembled  to  recall  their  childhood ; 
And  how  they  struggled   through  youth's   wild- 
wood. 

Met  in  large  hall  of  mansion  old, 
Their  various  experiences  they  told  ; 
How  ill  they  fared,  and  then  how  well; 
What  troubles  and  what  luck  befell. 


THE  GROUP. 

One  Alfred  Atherton  was  there, 
And  David  Williams,  who  offered  prayer ; 
And  Samuel  Crane,  of  course  a  Smith  ; 
And  tall  and  slim  was  William  Wythe. 
Brave  John  Jameson,  inclined  to  rhymes, 
Possessed  a  heart  for  stirring  limes. 


HAMPTON.  19 

Then  John  they  choose  to  tell  in  verse, 
In  easy,  off-hand,  style  rehearse, 
His  life  throughout  the  six  years  past 
Since  they  were  met  together  last. 
But  Jameson  modestly  preferred 
This  story  of  himself  deferred, 
And  told  instead,  in  rythmic  plan, 
How  Goodman,  Hampton's  noblest  man, 
Great  honors  on  the  humble  laid, 
And  for  himself  new  honors  made. 


PART    II. 


JAMESON'S    STORY. 

THE    WAYNES. 

T  N  Hampton  William  Wayne  abode, 

A  noble  soul,  with  heavy  load 
Of  poverty  and  want  to  bear. 
Harry,  his  son,  inured  to  care, 
Most  kindly  to  his  burdens  took, 
And  nobly  did  an  insult  brook. 
Wayne's  special  foe  Flint  Sternman  was, 
Whose  skill  at  meanness  did  surpass 
All  aspirants  for  chiefest  fame 


JAMESON'S  STORY.  21 

At  building  up  a  tyrant  name. 

To  Sternman  luck  a  mortgage  brought, 

On  Wayne's  homestead  good,  and  naught 

That  Wayne  proposed  could  move  the  man 

Tc  diverge  from  his  dastard  plan, 

To  foreclose  on  the  little  cot, 

And  all  the  Waynes  from  Hampton  blot. 

One  hundred  dollars  treasured  well, 

Young  Wayne  to  fee  at  school  "  a  spell," 

Was  sacrificed  to  Sternman's  wrath  ; 

And,  still,  to  clear  them  from  his  path, 

There  wanted  just  two  hundred  more  ; 

And  Sternman,  at  the  cottage  door, 

The  Waynes  from  Hampton  "  warned  "  away, 

Upon  a  gloomy  autumn  day, 

When  Johnnie  Wayne,  a  lovely  boy, 

The  household's  pet,  and  pride,  and  joy, 


22  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

O'erworked  in  weather  cold  and  wet, 
To  aid  in  lessening  the  debt, 
Was  dead  within. 

The  father  crazed  went  wandering  west, 

In  vaguest  searching  after  rest. 

The  mother  sought  some  distant  friends, 

And  planned  for  loss  to  make  amends. 

And  Harry  Wayne,  ah !  shut  the  page ; 

Of  misery  he  lived  an  age 

In  one  short  year;  and,  left  alone, 

He  earned  his  bread  about  the  town. 

Yet  darkness  but  precedes  the  light ; 

The  darkness  deep — the  morning's  bright 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  23 

WAR    DAYS    COME. 

When  April  suns  and  softening  showers 

Blessed  Hampton  hearts  and  Hampton  bowers, 

The  rebel  war  burst  on  the  land, 

And  patriot  hearts  were  beating  grand  ! 

John  Goodman's  regiment  was  raised 

When  first  the  Southern  war  news  blazed. 

The  county  sent  a  thousand  strong, 

To  die  or  sing  the  victor's  song; 

In  Hampton's  hundred  Harry  Wayne, 

The  bravest  of  the  hundred  men. 

But  he  lacked  cash,  and  was  too  meek, 

For  recognition  fit,  to  seek. 

To  Sternman's  son   command  was  given  ; 

And,  as  I  hope  at  last  for  heaven, 

So  small,  so  mean,  and  austere  man 


24  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

The  earth  had  not  since  time  began. 
The  father  was  considered  bad, 
But  greater  tyrant  was  the  lad. 


"DO    THOU,    MY    HARRY." 

This  disappointment  as  to  place 

Wayne  bore  with  very  perfect  grace, 

And  soon  received  a  word  of  cheer 

From  one  his  heart  held  very  dear, 

A  gentle  girl,  with  habit  plain, 

Whose  pretty  name  was  Mary  Mayne  : 

"  Do  thou,  my  Harry,  musket  take ; 

With  that  thy  noble  record  make. 

Thy  talents  well  deserve  a  sword, 

But,  treasure  up  my  parting  word, 

If  well  thou  serve  thou  mayest  command, 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  25 

And  yet  be  honored  through  the  land. 
And  every  day  the  sun  doth  rise, 
My  waking  and  my  closing  eyes 
Shall  look  to  heaven,  that  not  in  vain 
Doth  suffer  my  good   Harry  Wayne." 
And  in  this  band,  John  Jameson  said, 
I  followed  where  John  Goodman  led. 
My  comrade  was  this  Harry  true, 
Whose  story  I   discourse  to  you. 
To  torture  Wayne  and  crush  his  heart 
Was  Captain  Sternman's  only  art. 
He  deemed  his  noblest  duty  done, 
If  he  abused  this  manly  one. 
The  hardest  task  to  Wayne  he  gave, 
Regarding  him  ignoble  slave. 


26  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

COLONEL  GOODMAN  AND  HIS  MEN. 

But  Colonel  Goodman,  brave  and  kind, 

Blessed  with  a  noble,  royal  mind — 

He  was  my  model  of  a  man ; 

Heaven  forms  them  on  no  higher  plan. 

No  man  our  regiment  within 

But  deemed  it  were  the  grossest  sin 

To  disobey  the  Colonel's  word 

Or  rest  when  Goodman  drew  his  sword. 

Near  fifty,  then,  but  young  and  bright, 

John   Goodman  was  a  well-built  knight, 

Of  scarcely  less  than   Titan  height. 

His  hair  and  whiskers  iron  gray, 

A  trifle  in  the  slouching  way, 

He  wore  his  soldier  chieftain's  hat, 

Which  like  a  crown  of  glory  sat. 


JAMESON'S  STORY.  27 

Like  quaint  John  Bunyan's  good  Great  Heart 

Was  Goodman,  skilled  in  all  the  art 

Of  nobly  doing  kindly  deeds  ; 

And  if  the  record  rightly  reads, 

So  keen  his  sense  of  what  was  right, 

He  paused  on  horse  in  thickest  fight, 

To  look  his  thanks  for  good  deeds  done, 

And  bravery  by  the  humblest  shown. 

And  wounded  soldiers  on  the  field, 

Before  their  latest  breath  would  yield, 

If  still  they  had  the  power  to  hear 

When  Goodman's  voice  rang  sweet  and  clear, 

Would  rise  with  that  reviving  will 

Which  sometimes  dying  soldiers  fill, 

And  fight  with  foe,  and  fight  with  death, 

And  in  their  struggles  gain  new  breath  ; 

And  with  their  band  the  battle  win, 


28  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

Then  help  to   bring  the  wounded  in, 
And  find  themselves  had  wounds. 
And  Goodman  all  the  wounded  nursed, 
For  when  in  luck  the  best  and  worst, 
And  at  the  last,  as  at  the  first, 
For  doing  it  if  roundly  cursed, 
By  officers  of  higher  grade 
Who  wished   no   useless  trouble  made, 
This  Goodman  cared  for  all  his  men, 
And  sought  to  bring  them  home  again. 
No  wound   but  met  his  kindly  eye, 
And,  did  a  sick  man  chance  to  die, 
John  Goodman  knew  the   reason   why; 
And  one  brave  heart  was   there  to   mourn, 
And  have  the  body  homeward  borne. 
Such  was  the  man  whom  Hampton  sent 
To  lead  her  valiant  regiment. 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  29 

He   wore  the   eagles  to  the  wars 

And  graduated  with   two   stars. 

For  rank  he  wisely  held  respect; 

And  so  refrained  to  act  direct 

And   Captain   Sternman   reprimand 

For  ruling  with  an  iron   hand 

Whom   he  should  lead,  inspire  and  cheer, 

And  treasure  all  their  interests  dear. 

But  Goodman  noted  down  with  care 

His  tyranny,  too  great  to  bear, 

And   noted   how  young   Harry  took 

Insults  no  other  man  could  brook. 


IN   GOODMAN'S   TENT. 

Though  long  deferred,  the  wrath  that  came 
Did  not  belie  John   Goodman's  name ; 


3<D  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

Full  two  years  after  warring  went 
This  Goodman  brave,  within  his  tent 
A  scene,  when  he  has  words  to  say 
To  Sternman  for  his  tyrant  way : 


GOODMAN    SPEAKS   TO    STERNMAN. 

"  In  trials  where  no  coward  could, 

And  where  I  little  thought  he  would, 

Our  Wayne  has  proved  so  truly  good, 

And  firmly  in  the  battle  stood, 

I  often  deeply  wondered  why  : 

4  Did  some  sweet  influence  from  the  sky 

Inspire  the  boy  and  cheer  his  heart 

To  nobly  act  a  hero's  part?' 

Then  thought  it  was  in  Hampton  where 

A  sweet  girl  daily  offered  prayer, 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  3  I 

That  God  would  keep  whom  she  had  sent, 

With  musket,  to  my  regiment. 

And,  Sternman,  that  choice  Hampton  girl, 

By  acts  bespeaking  you  a  churl, 

You  sought  to  win  from  Harry  Wayne. 

I  think  your  wooing  is  in  vain ; 

For,  as  I  wear  this  trusty  sword, 

You  shall  return  so  much  abhorred, 

You  cannot  lisp  the  meekest  word ! 

When  swept  the  rebels  round  the  ridge, 

Wayne  left  his  post  to  cut  the  bridge. 

It  sank  in  stream  ;  they  could  not  ford. 

That  night  the  chaplain  thanked  the  Lord, 

That  through  the  providence  of  heaven 

This  quick  deliverance  was  given. 

But  instrumental  of  this  good 

Our  Harry  Wayne,  who  understood, 


32  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

He  left  his  post  at  peril  great, 

If  you  administered  his  fate. 

Ere  Harry  reached  his  picket  place, 

You,  who  are  dependant  on  my  grace, 

As  captain  of  the  night  rode  round  ; 

Harry,  absent,  then  you  found, 

But  from  his  post  our  Harry  went 

To  save  our  good  old  regiment, 

Resting,  then,  as  it  had  right, 

So  tired  and  worn  by  march  and  fight. 

I  had  a  six-day  furlough  home, 

And  'ere  "old  Goodman"  back  should  come,' 

This  Wayne  you  clandestinely  tried, 

To  get  him   sentenced,  sir,  you  lied ! 

And  thus  the  cruel   record  stood : 

One  day  to  carry  log  of  wood, 

And,  for  desertion,  next,  be  shot. 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  33 

And  then  you  said,  '  Will  Mary  Mayne, 
I  wonder,  weep  for  Harry   Wayne  ? ' 
Had  I  remained  the  furlough  through 
He  had  been  hid  from  mortal  view! 
To-morrow  execution  day, 
When  you  this  Wayne  would  hide  away  ! 
There's  Harry  now  with  manly  grace, 
A  patient  meekness  on  his  face, 
Pacing  near  the  guard-tent  door, 
His  shoulders  from  the  sentence  sore. 
Orderly  bring  him  without  harm, 
Myself  shall   place  upon  his  arm 
This  well-earned  chevron,    as  a  slight 
Reward  for  all  his  acting  right. 
And,  Sternman,  here  I  make  a  vow, 
Your  dastard  self  to  him  shall  bow, 
And  crave  his  pardon  on  the  spot 
3 


34  JAMESON  S    STORY. 

That  you  have  dug  for  Wayne  to  rot. 
If  more  brave  deeds  this  boy  shall  do, 
A  captain  he;  and  major,  too, 
He'll  be,  ere  this  bad  war  is  through. 
And  Captain   Sternman  quick  resign  ; 
We  have  no  room  for  souls  like  thine ; 
Your  tyrant  conduct  endeth  here, 
Your  time  has  come  to  cringe  with  fear." 

Then  Sternman  urged  the  deep  disgrace, 
And  begged  John  Goodman's  pardoning  face 
"Had'st  thou  insulted  me  direct, 
A  pardon  free  might  thou  expect ; 
But  that  bad  crime  of  tyranny, 
To  brave  as  Wayne  has  proved  to  be, 
Transcends  the  power  to  mortals   given, 
And  overtaxes  gracious  heaven. 


JAMESON  S    STORV. 

I'll  publish  my  official  thanks, 
That  every  soldier  in  the  ranks, 
Shall  know  so  brave  as  Harry  Wayne 
Has  not  endured  your  wrath  in  vain  ; 
Official  thanks  for  doing  that 
For  which  you  had  him  sentenced  shot. 
Two  years  upon  his  lot  I   wept, 
And  patiently  my  wrath  have  kept ; 
For  respite,  thus  far,  you  may  thank 
Respect  for  military  rank." 


A    MEMORABLE    PARADE. 

The  regimental  line  was  made, 
To  hold  the  formal  dress  parade  ; 
And  when  the  adjutant  had  read 


36  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

John  Goodman's  thanks,  so  nobly  said, 
"  Hail  to  the  Chief,"  the  soldiers  sang, 
And  loudly  then  three  brave  cheers  rang. 
Then   Harry  Wayne  so  meek  appears, 
His  eyes  suffused  with  manly  tears  ; 
And  cheer  on  cheer  to  Goodman's  name 
Well  rounded  out  this  scene  of  fame. 


THE    FIGHT    AT    SUNSET. 

A   courier  swift  across  the  plain— 

"The  foe  are  coming  down  amain!" 

Straight  Goodman's  boys,  with  muskets  bright, 

Wheel  into  line  and  march  to  fight. 

Led  by  this  man  of  noble  heart, 

How  Goodman's  men  ply  well  their  art. 

Then  Sternman  as  a  private  fought, 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  37 

And  Wayne  of  no  old  grudges  thought  ; 
O'er  Sternman  hung  a  rebel  stroke 
And  Harry  then  the  sabre  broke! 
And  sharp  and  loud  the  muskets  rang, 
And  all  the  horrid,  bloody  clang 
.Of  war  the  soldiers  made, 
And  scores  of  killed  and  wounded  laid. 
At  setting  of  the  western  sun 
Was  this  successful  fight  begun  ; 
'Twas  at  the  darkened  hour  of  ten 
The  rebels  said,  "we're  conquered  men." 

AND  WITH  HIS  MUSKET  EARNED  A  SWORD." 

All  honor  be  to  Goodman's   name  ; 

By  this  sharp  fight  he  gained  new  fame. 

Soon  shining  stars  his  coat  adorned  ; 


38  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

And  Harry  Wayne,  whom  Sternman  scorned, 
A  captaincy  was  duly  given, 

A  gift  well  pleasing  unto  heaven. 

/ 

The  space  of  time  was  very  brief, 

Ere  he  acquired  the  yellow  leaf; 

Then  braver  he  than  e'er  before, 

His  yellow  leaf  was  silvered  o'er  ; 

Up  honor's  scale  he  quickly  passed, 

And  gained  the  eagles  at  the  last. 

Then  came  the  news  about  the  tree, 

Where  meekly  figured  Robert  Lee. 

The  hard-fought  strife  at  last  was  through, 

And  after  Johnson's  grand  review, 

The  Union  men  came  from  the  wars, 

In  glory  clad,  and  marked  with  scars. 

Commander  of  the  regiment, 

In  which  he  first  a  soldier  went, 


JAMESON  S    STORY.  39 

Wayne  homeward  rode,  and  gave  his  sword 
To  her  whose  brave  and  cheering  word, 
And  prayers  each  day  unto  the  Lord, 
Were  answered  well,  by  Him  who  keeps 
The  truly  brave  and  never  sleeps. 
So   Harry  proved  how  true  her  word, 
And  with  his  musket  earned  a  sword. 


HEAVEN'S    BEST    PLAN. 

Soon  Hampton's  happy  village  bell, 
Doth  honeyed  news  of  marriage  tell. 
And  Harry  Wayne,  the  barefoot  boy, 
With  whom  the  plebeians  thought  to  toy ; 
Brave  Colonel  Wayne,  the  gallant  man, 
Accepteth  now  of  Heaven's  plan 
To  be  as  good  as  mortals  can. 


4<D  JAMESON'S  STORY. 

And  Mary  Mayne,  heroic  one, 
Who  such  a  blessed  work  had  done 
At  praying  for  the  regiment 
In  which  her  Harry  warring  went — 
She,  too,  accepts  of   Heaven's  plan 
To  be  as  good  as  mortals  can. 
Our  Wayne  has  been  a  Boston  man, 
But  now  in  Hampton  will  reside, 
He  does  not  hold  to  roaming  wide. 


A    TYRANT'S    GRAVE. 

When   Sternman  came  in  such  disgrace, 
No  one  in  Hampton  gave  a  place. 
The  village  brats  his  presence  spurned, 
And   Hampton  canines,  snarling,  turned; 
And  then  his  bitter  cup  to  fill 


JAMESONS    STORY.  4! 

His  father  used  him  passing  ill. 
Young   Sternman  died  two  years  ago, 
Across  his  grave  the  bleak  winds  blow. 
Near  him  we've  laid  his  father  down  ; 
Let  praises  rise   from  all  the  town ! 

THE    EFFECT. 

The  group  arose,  together  sang, 

The  while  that  grand  old  mansion  rang, 

"God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 

His  wonders  to  perform  ; 
He  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea 
And  rides  upon  the  storm. 

His  purposes  will  ripen  fast, 

Unfolding  every  hour ; 
The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 

1  ut  sweet  will  be  the  flower." 


42  JAMESON  S    STORY. 

• 

And  then  they  sang  "Old  Hundred"  so, 
"  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow," 
That  brave  John  Goodman,  living  by, 
Thought  he  would  call  and  ask  them  why 
The  noise;    and,  seeing  Jameson  there, 
Entered  and  took  the  proffered  chair  ; 
And,  greeting  each,  went  on  to  say, 

In  Goodman's  old  great-hearted  way, 

i 

What  Hampton's  future  seemed  to  be ; 

How  grand  its  coming  history. 


PART   III. 


GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP. 

EACH.  PLAN    SUCCEEDS. 

A     THOUSAND  things  we  think  to  do, 
To  make  our  old  town  grandly  new  ; 
Each  plan  succeeds  ;    I  can't  tell  how — 
We're  in  the  winning  business  now  ! 
And  now,  young  men,  abide  in  town, 
For  through  the  wide  world  up  and  down, 
There  is  no  better,  safer  spot, 
To  build  your  fortune  and  your  cot. 


44  GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP. 

Good  Farmer  Dow,  across  the  street, 

With  all  his  buildings  large  and  neat, 

And  fruitful  lands,  and  cash  in  bank ; 

And  holding  here  good  social  rank, 

A  motto  took  in  early  life, 

That  proved  of  choicest  blessings  rife 

"  Whoever  fully  plays  his  part, 

Is  always  raking  toward  the  cart!" 


TEMPERANCE    AT    HAMPTON. 

You  may  remember  Peter  Pyne, 
Whom  no  man  could  redeem  from  wine. 
This  man  has  now  a  twelve-month  served, 
And  never  from  the  pledge  has  swerved. 
One  day  the  wily  tavern  man 
Endeavored,  as  those  rum  men  can, 


GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP.  45 

To  coax  him  to  the  tavern  in, 

And  lead  into  his  olden  sin. 

But  Pyne  so  prayed   there  came  a  power 

To  "help  him  in  that  trying  hour. 

He  bravely  then  the  luring  spurned, 

And  from  the  tempter  quickly  turned. 

Then  sought  my  door  all  trembling  white — 

"  General  Goodman,  I  acted  right !  " 

"  Yes,  Pyne,  you  have,  and,  noble  friend, 

I'll  surely  help  you  to  the  end. 

To  tempt  a  man  who  struggles  so  ; 

There  is  no  blacker  crime  below." 

I  promptly  made  a  little  plan 

And  gave  it  to  my  servant  man  : 

"  You  leave  no  piece  of  upright  wood 

Where  this  old  Blaisdell's  tavern  stood  ; 

Quick,  Robert,  pull  this  tavern  down, 


46  GOODiMAN    TO    THE    GROUP. 

That  has  so  cursed  our  pleasant  town." 
"  And  troth,  yer  honor,  it's  Robert  that  will, 
And  livil  it  flat  as  an  auld  dung-hill!" 
So,  calling  out  his  Celtic  son, 
They  made  the  rarest  sort  of  fun, 
At  blotting  out  this  Hampton  hell, 
And  all  the  people  said,  "  'tis  well." 
Now,  after  first  good  deeds  are  done, 
We  will  not  leave  poor  Pyne  alone ; 
But  grant  him  greeting,  wish  him  health, 
A  home,  and  happiness,  and  wealth  ; 
Bright  flowers  to  see,  fountains  to  hear; 
And,  in  the  merry  time  of  year, 
Some  grand  old  rides  in  happy  sleighs. 
We'll  try  all  generous-hearted  ways, 
That  noble-minded  men  devise, 
To  help  the  sinning  to  the  skies, 


GOODMAN    TO   THE    GROUP.  47 

And  make  them  happy  on  the  earth, 
And  deem  themselves  as  something  worth ; 
Always  we'll  seek  his  heart  to  win, 
Nor  let  him  have  the  chance  to  sin, 
But  give  him  all  good-tempered  cheer, 
And  hope  and  joy,  in  place  of  fear. 

A    SCHOOL    ON    THE    TAVERN    SITE. 

Soon  where  that  old  rum  tavern  stood, 
We'll  have,  as  every  village  should, 
A  school,  where  poorest  boy  may  seek, 
A  knowledge  of  the  tough  old  Greek, 
And  modern  French  and  Latin  grand, 
And  all  the  science  in  the  land  ; 
A  knowledge  gain  of  common  sense, 
And  learn  to  think  and  act  intense, 


48  GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP. 

And  have  a  heart  that  is  immense. 

The  building  clone  a  three-month  hence, 

The  opening  term  will  then  begin, 

Luck  we  shall  have,  I  think,  therein. 

You,  Jameson,  teach  this  Hampton  school ; 

And  keep  it  by  no  stingy  rule. 

The  noblest  boy  shall  head  his  class 

Until  another  shall  surpass, 

In  humble  greatness,  not  in  brass, 

Nor  yet  in  brains  alone  ; 

Naught  shall  by  any  means  atone 

For  littleness  ! 

Our  Judge  shall  be  good  Harry  Wayne, 
Who's  coming  into  town  again. 
David  Williams,  I  think,  will  preach  ; 
No  better  man  the  Word  to  teach. 


GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP.  49 

Welcome  there'll  be  for  all,  and  place, 
To  exercise  their  gifts  and  grace. 


GOOD    NIGHT. 

Now  Goodman  rose  to  take  his  leave ; 

Like  children  then  these  strong  men  grieve, 

And  press  him  sore  to  pass  the  night, 

"  For  going  home  was  hardly  right." 

But  Goodman  said  :  I  seek  my  bower, 

For  soundeth  from  the  village  tower 

The  music  of  the  midnight  hour. 

My  friends,  it  seems  from  three  till  twelve, 

Intent  in  memories  to  delve, 

You  have  not  taken  rest  nor  food  ; 

Such  living  is  not  for  your  good. 

Excuse  me  now  ;   but,  by  the  way, 

4 


50  GOODMAN    TO    THE    GROUP. 

I  heard  our  Farmer  Dow  to  say — 
And  Thursday  is  Thanksgiving  day — 
"  My  General  John,  those  six  young  men, 
When  they  to  Hampton   come  again, 
Old  Farmer  Dow  will  feast  them  then, 
And,  General  John,  of  course,  you  come, 
And  make  yourself,  and  them,  at  home." 
Thus  we  shall  have  our  turkey  sweet 
At  Mr.  Dow's,  •  across  the  street. 


PART    IV. 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

'  I  ""HE  old  New  England  feast  had  come, 

In  Mr.  Dow's  substantial  home ; 
And  kith  and  kin  of  Farmer  Dow, 
Unwed  or  with  the  marriage  vow  ; 
And  young  and  old,  a  great  array, 
Were  gathered  on  that  festal  day. 
John  Goodman  there,  with  his  young  men, 
Appeared  himself,  a  youth,  again. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Wayne, 
Attired  in  habit  rich  but  plain, 


52  AT   THE   THANKSGIVING. 

Arrived  upon  the  Boston  train, 
Inquiring  for  the  health  and  gain, 
Of  all  assembled  at  that  board, 
With  Mrs.  Dow's  provision  stored. 
Then  grace  was  said  and  praise  was  sung, 
But  brief  they  talked  of  pies  and  tongue  : 
For  Goodman  still  had  words  to  say, 
In  Goodman's  old  great-hearted  way, 
What  Hampton's  future  seemed  to  be, 
How  grand  its  coming  history: 


THE    FACTORIES. 

"Two  mills  are  done,  and  soon  a  third; 
They  grow  like  magic  at  our  word. 
Strong  cotton  goods  in  one  are  made  ; 
In  others,  prints  that  will  not  fade. 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  53 

A  paper-mill  shall  be  our  boast, 
Erected  at  a  heavy  cost ; 

Built  strong,  correct,  from  defects  clear, 

• 
Supplied  with  finest  Fourdrinier, 

Whereon  three  tons  of  every  grade 
Of  writing  papers — wove  and  laid — 
Shall  be  produced,  and  shipped,  and  sold, 
To  bring  us  handy  heaps  of  gold. 
Fine  paper  collars  shall  be  made ; 
And  it  shall  be  a  noble  trade. 
So  beautiful  the  shop  shall  be, 
From  dust,  and  mould,  and  litter  free, 
That  people  from  afar  shall  come, 
And  bring  some  member  of  their  home 
To  work  within  so  choice  a  place, 
And  learn  the  way  to  work  with  grace. 
And,  called  to  toil  by  silver  gong, 


54  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

The  operatives,  happy  throng, 
Shall  pass  the  village  street  along, 
Vexing  the  air  with  pleasant  song ! 


THE    HAMPTON    PAPER. 

The  town  now  has  a  weekly  sheet, 
Quite  newsy,  smart,  and  printed  neat ; 
And  all  right  glad  its  pages  greet. 
But,  as  we  have  our  railroad  through, 
I  think  we'll  print  a  daily,  too ; 
Wherein  to  give  the  wheat  of  news, 
And  verses  worthy  to  peruse ; 
Neat  editorials,  short  and  smart, 
On  commerce,  politics  and  art— 
All  richest  things  from  raciest  pen  ; 
Our  aim  to  help  deserving  men. 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  55 

Flint  Sternman's  homestead  is  the  place 
Where,  by  the  aid  of  gospel  grace, 
We'll  print  our  paper,  dedicate 
To  all  that  makes  our  Hampton  great ; 
And  Harry  Wayne,  and  Jameson,  too, 
WTho  are  prepared  this  work  to  do, 
Shall  write  upon  this  newsy  sheet, 
For  such  arrangement  will  be  meet. 


A    CHURCH    AND    A    LODGE. 

Though  Masonry  in  Hampton  's  new, 
I   think   we'll  have  a  lodge  in  blue, 
And   Harry  shall  be  master,  too. 
And  soon  we'll  consummate  a  plan 
To  honor  Christ  and  honor  man ; 
A  Christian  church,  as  heaven  designed, 


56  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

In  which  all  Christian  sects  are  joined. 
And  Williams  shall  the  pastor  be, 
An  earnest,  pious  preacher  he. 
In  Sabbath  school  we  all  intend 
A  constant  helping  hand  to  lend, 
But  Harry  Wayne  must  superintend. 
Most  modest  man,  who  earned  a  sword 
By  trusting  maiden  and  the  Lord ; 
True  soldier  brave,  my  model  man, 
Who  suffered  as  no  coward  can, 
Unknown  in  youth — now  take  the  van ! ' 


WITH    ALL    THESE    HONORS. 

With  all  these  honors  on  his  head, 

Brief  were  the  words  that  Harry  said  : 

"  There's  such  a  change  'twixt  now  and  then, 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  57 

From  plebeian  scorn  to  praise  by  men  ! 

I  little  dreamed  of  joy  like  this ; 

Heaven  grant  the  grace  t'  endure  the  bliss  ; 

And  teach  me  how  the  good  to  keep 

By  aiding  those  who  want  and  weep. 

Henceforth  I  trust  and  bless  my  kind ; 

And  in  that  trust  my  blessing  find." 

Then  Jameson  spoke  his  gratitude, 

And  David  Williams,  tall  and  good ; 

When  Goodman  gave  a  brief  reply, 

As  evening  time  was  drawing  nigh : 

"  Of  joy  so  filled,  I  wish  to  shout, 

And  let  the  pent-up  glory  out ; 

As  Methodist  I  might  surpass 

The  bravest  Wesley  in  his  class ! 

Bring  hither  all  who  want  our  aid, 

On  whom  life's  heavy  woes  are  laid  ; 


58  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

Who  wish  our  prayers  that  heaven  will  bless, 
Our  hand  to  lift  them  from  distress ; 
To  aid  them  all  we  make  our  vow; 
We're  in  that  sort  of  business  now ! " 


MRS.    JOHN    GOODMAN. 

"  The  sweetest  wife,  my  mild  Marie, 

Is  sixty  now,  and  so  am  I. 

Two  children  died  long  years  ago, 

With  typhus  fever  deep  and  slow  ; 

The  angels  sent  a  bird  again, 

A  manly  boy,  now  five  and  ten. 

Wife  prayed  for  me  through  all  the  wars, 

And  gloried  in  my  sword  and  scars  ; 

In  rebel  and  the  Mexic  fight, 

Her  faith  has  kept  my  armor  bright. 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  59 

A  tender  eye  she  hath  for  poor 

Who  seek  a  blessing  at  our  door. 

One  day  she  said,  '  'Tis  not  a  task 

To  grant  the  favor  that  I  ask ; 

You  have  three  hundred  thousand,  just, 

Secured  by  honest  means,  I  trust ; 

Give  me  a  full  five  thousand  down, 

With  gig  to  ride  about  the  town.' 

Some  generous  scheme  I  knew  she  planned 

To  bless  the  needy  of  the  land  ; 

Nor  closer  then  the  details  scanned, 

Enough  that  wife  could  understand  ; 

But  drew  the  check,  a  phaeton  bought, 

A  gentle  steed  from  'York  State'  brought; 

And,  loaded  well  with  baskets  down, 

She  drives  her  team  about  the  town, 

Dispensing  blessings  to  the  poor, 


6O  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

Who  have  not  now  to  seek  our  door ! " 
And  thus  with  pride  full  worthy  youth, 
This  silvered  man,  in  sincere  truth, 
Discoursed  of  plans  with  which  his  wife 
Was  nobly  rounding  out  her  life. 


BREAD    ON    THE    WATERS. 

In  answer  to  an  urgent  call 
From  each  within  the  festive  hall, 
John  Jameson  gave  a  story  brief, 
Concerning  which  they  had  belief 
He  knew  full  well,  and  figured,  too, 
As  benefactor  prompt  and  true ; 
And  yet,  so  urged,  what  could  he  do 
But  honest  tell  the  story  through  ? 
"  How  good  returns  our  labors  bring  ; 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  6 1 

Strange  as  the  themes  the  weird  bards  sing  ; 

One  man  I  know  was  grand  but  wild ; 

Romantic  man  when  but  a  child. 

In  after  years  this  man,  again, 

I  met  among  the  comely  men 

Who  thronged  the  porch,  a  pleasant  place 

Where  prayer,  and  praise,  and  words  of  grace, 

Gave  sacred  charm  and  hallowed  joy, 

The  choicest  bliss  and  no  alloy. 

At  first  I  could  not  trust  my  eyes ; 

But  he  confirmed  my  glad  surprise. 

More  than  a  year  he  owned  the  Lord, 

And  trusted  in  his  heavenly  word. 

And  then  to  others,  there,  he  said  : 

• 
'  This  man  for  me  devoutly  prayed 

In  tent  upon  the  Southern  glade, 
When,  wretched,  scoffing,  steeped  in  sin, 


62  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

I  baffled  all  his  work  to  win. 
And  then  he  saved  my  earthly  life, 
When  we  were  marching  from  the  strife. 
And  I  was  sick,  and  sank  to  die, 
Beneath  that  fervid  Southern  sky. 
He  spoke  the  noblest  words  of  cheer, 
Which  even  now  I  freshly  hear ; 
He  gave  me  drink,  my  musket  bore, 
And,  to  the  firm  land  took  me  o'er 
The  miasmatic  swamp,  that  teemed 
With  death,  and  like  my  nature  seemed ; 
And,  by  the  side  of  spreading  tree, 
He  spoke  of  home  and  Christ  to  me. 
We  joined,  at  last,  the  army  train, 
And  had  the  luck  the  camp  to  gain. 
When  war  was  done  and  I  returned, 
Good  wisdom's  teachings  still  I  spurned ; 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  63 

But  though  most  reckless  I  have  been, 
God's  wondrous  grace  has  saved  from  sin.' 
And  more  he  would  have  said,  but  there 
The  preacher  rose  to  offer  prayer. 
We  passed  from  vestibule  to  pew, 
And  of  God's  grace,  forever  new, 
The  preacher  taught  the  blessed  plan 
Designed  to  save  rebellious  man. 
How  blest  that  Sabbath  day  to  me  ; 
How  great  its  influence  shall  be! 
A  blessed  evening  hour  we  passed ; 
The  first,  but  not  the  best  nor  last. 
This  friend  for  bread  did  run  a  mill, 
By  limpid  lake,  at  foot  of  hill, 
Whose  cheerful  din   is  with  me  still. 
And  near  the  mill  sequestered  grot ; 
Hard  by  the  dell,  a  pleasant  cot, 


64  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

Wherein  his  wife  so  sweet  and  young, 
Her  cheerful  joy,  enraptured  sung ; 
And  childish  song,  with  tender  art, 
Burst  forth  from  one  delighted  heart. 
A  charm  around  the  scene  was  thrown, 
The  prosy  world  has  never  known. 
He  prospers  still,  and  God  have  praise 
For  all  his  many  happy  days." 


"WITH    CIRCUMSPECTION,    LET    US,    NOW. 

As  though  far  off  an  angel  sung, 
Through  all  the  room  a  stillness  hung. 
Then  Goodman  rose,  with  reverence  said- 
A  saintly  glory  on  his  head : — 
"  With  circumspection,  let  us,  now, 
Before  the  Benefactor  bow, 


AT    THE    THANKSGIVING.  6$ 

From  whom  all  blessings  flow  to  men, 
And  pray  and  praise  his  name  again." 
With  bursting  hearts,  and  face  joy-limned, 
Their  final  praise  they  sweetly  hymned ; 
And  then  to  Dame  and  Farmer  Dow, 
Each  neighbor  made  no  formal  bow, 
But  said,  "  For  you  choice  good  we  ask, 
Much  be  your  joy,  and  kind  your  task  ! 
And  we  ourselves  now  dedicate 
To  help  men  to  a  happy  state, 
And  by  such  means  make  Hampton  great ! " 

WHEN    GOODMAN    DIES. 

Sincerely  hoping,  in  my  song, 

That  brave  John  Goodman  liveth  long, 

Yet  still,  as  all  must  pass  away, 

5 


66  AT    THE    THANKSGIVING. 

There  cometh  on  a  requiem  day, 

When  General  John  must  leave  his  sword 

And  rise,  to  meet  and  praise  his  Lord. 

Ah  !    that  will  be  no  idle  throng, 

That  crowd  the  village  street  along ; 

Each  home  will  have  a  sadder  song, 

And  e'en  the  merry  eyes  among, 

The  sigh  will  break,  the  tear  will  start, 

And  honest  sorrow  move  each  heart. 

The  regiment  will  gather  there, 

The  parson  say  no  formal  prayer, 

And  citizens,  and  soldiers,  too, 

Will  weep  as  brave  for  brave  men  do! 


OUR   YANKEE   LAND. 


OUR    YANKEE    LAND. 

/~~^  OD  bless  the  good  New  England  hills, 

And  every  valley  there  ; 
God  bless  the  mountain  lakes  and  brooks, 

And  their  salubrious  air. 
And  choicest  blessings  rest  upon 

The  people  of  those  States  ; 
God  grant  them  pleasant  skies  above, 

With  plenty  at  their  gates. 

Prosperity  attend  their  toil, 

In  factory  and  field  ; 
And  may  their  skill  with  car  and  ship 

Abundant  profit  yield. 
May  pestilence  and  famine  spare 


7O  OUR    YANKEE    LAND. 

This  most  delightful  spot  ; 
And  distant  be  the  day  when  crime 
Its  history  shall  blot. 

Although  appeareth  sectional, 

To  sing  New  England's  praise, 
I  point  the  nation's  history, 

Through  dark  and  prosperous  days, 
For  proof  that  our  New  England  leads 

In  national  affairs, 
And,  with  ability  and  grit, 

The  nation's  burdens  bears. 

So,  then,  full  fearlessly,  with  joy, 

Whatever  banner  flaunt ; 
Do  rebel  Southrons  greet  with  scorn, 

Or  Britons  with  a  taunt ; 


OUR    YANKEE    LAND.  J 

We'll  sing  their  name,  whose  head  and  heart, 

And  never-faltering  hand, 
Have  well  upheld  the  stars  and  stripes — 

God  bless  our  Yankee  land. 

Oh  could  I  be  forgiven,  did 

My  heart  not  turn  to  thee, 
With  gratitude  and  pride,  dear  land, 

For  all  thou  art  to  me  : 
Thine  atmosphere  and  scenery, 

Thy  present,  future,  past; 
Thy  trials  first,  and  glory  now, 

To  last  while  time  shall  last  ? 

God  bless  the  land  where  I  was  born, 

And  played,  a  happy  child, 
Ere  yet  I  saw  a  southern  swamp, 


72  OUR    YANKEE    LAND. 

Or  roamed  a  western  wild  ; 
And  where,  within  a  cot  among 

Our  Massachusetts  hills, 
My  early  being  was  attuned 

By  cadence  of  the  rills. 

And,  in  the  future  of  my  life, 

Where'er  my  pathway  lies  ; 
Whatever  lot  is  meted  out, 

Or  kind,  or  cold  my  skies, 
Still  evermore,  my  song,  at  home 

Or  on  a  foreign  strand, 
Through  life,  and  at  the  honest  hour, 

God  bless  our   Yankee   land  ! 


LOCAL    LINES. 


THE  DEAD  DOHERTY. 

T     ET   Erin   weep ;   my   Bridget's   dead 

Said   Doherty,  one  day ; 
"  Ye   Celtic   braves   bewail  her  all, 

And   Praste   O'Connor  pray. 
Then  round  the   corpse,  for  carnival, 

Assemble  with  your  wine, 
To   mark   her   exit   from   the   world 

With   drunkenness   divine  ! 


"  The   sober  Yankee   race   may  deem 
Such   business  grossest   sin  ; 

But   Irishmen   have   royal    right 
To  aid   their  grief  with   gin ! 


76  THE    DEAD    DOHERTY. 

From  sighs  to  sips  of  mourning  grog 
Our  hearts  shall  alternate; 

And  does  a  Yankee  dare  protest, 
We'll  break  his  worthless  pate. 


"  So  light  the   candles  round   her,   now, 

And  drink  unto  her  joy, 
That  she  may  quickly  pass  where  hell 

Can   never  more  annoy! 
Brave   is   the  way  the   Irish  die, 

And  grand  the  funeral   rite, 
Where  sober  men   are   not  allowed, 

Nor  those   afraid   to   fight ! 

"  And  as  through   purgatory   walks 
The  spirit  of  my  wife, 


THE    DEAD    DOHERTY. 

Drink  once,  again,   and  then  prepare 

To  wage  a  holy  strife. 
Hit  hard  and  sharp,  my  lively  lads, 

A  glorious  battle   make; 
Then  drink  again,  and  swear  and  fight 

Such  is  the  Irish  wake!" 


The  happy  Irishmen  I  know 

Must  not  surmise  they're  hit — 
The  pleasant  Emeraldic  men 

Of  common  sense  and  wit ; 
Who  manifest  in   ways  and  words 

Urbanity  and  grit; 
Unto  whose  inoffensive  lives 

My  satire  would  not   fit. 


"SAM'S"   PAPER. 

OAM"  run  a  paper  in  the  town 
With  such  consummate  tact, 
I  am  inclined  to  give,  in  rhyme, 
My     .memories  of  the  fact. 

This  leading  journal's  columns  teemed 
With  "'tisements,"  "  eds,"  and  news, 

And  fearlessly,  therein,  with  force, 
Our  Samuel  spoke  his  views 

On  politics  or  church  affairs, 

And  things  of  social  life ; 
And  if  he  wished  to  "  smash  "  a  man, 

He  waged  a  royal  strife. 


"  SAM  S         PAPER. 

A  kind  assistant  had  the  charge 

Of  such  rhetoric  truck 
As  to  the  office  came,  with  prayers 

It  might  be  blessed  with  luck, 

He  was  with  mild  pretensions  blest, 
With  wit  and  great  good  sense, 

With  power  that  ran  in  even  course, 
And  not  in  fits  intense. 

An  energetic  business  man 
The  printing  contracts  made ; 

Episcopalian  in  his  creed, 
And  science  at  his  trade. 

He  was  a  wit  of  upper  rank, 
None  handier  than  he 


8o 


To  perpetrate  a  healthy  joke, 
Or  timely  repartee. 

Shrewd  in  the  line  of  news  and  things, 

The  chiefest  local  man, 
To  gather  in  occurrences, 

Had  very  happy  plan. 

And  all  the  inward  coming  trains 
Bore  missives  crammed  with  news, 

From  voting  for  the  governor 
To  rental  of  church  pews. 

A  clever  critic  was  attached, 

Whose  criticisms  smacked 
More  of  the  good  a  book  possessed, 

Than  of  the  good  it  lacked. 


"SAM'S"   PAPER:  81 

For  many  years,  successfully 

Toiled  on  this  able  force  ; 
Their  journal  praised  and  envied,  too, 

For  its  most  prosperous  course. 

In  later  days  division  came 

A  quartette  went  away, 
To  run  a  lively  evening  sheet  ; 

And  made  the  business  pay. 


OUR   CONDUCTORS. 

T)OLITE   and  careful,  to  the  "Hub" 

John  moves  his  morning  cars; 
At  evening  brings  them  home  again, 
When  early  blink  the  stars. 

Through  fretting  days  of  summer  hot, 

In  winter,  spring,  or  fall, 
He  takes  your  tickets  with  good  grace, 

Your  questions  answers  all. 

Commanders  of  our  lightning  train, 

To  whom  the  gods  impart 
The  grace  to  run  our  swiftest  cars, 

How  difficult  the  art, 


OUR     CONDUCTORS.  83 

From  Boston   to  the  Hudson,  far, 
Through  cut,  and  gorge,  and  glen, 

Along  the  streams  and  o'er  the  hills, 
With  angel  speed  and  ken, 

Two  hundred  passengers  to  bear, 

As  on  divans  at  rest ; 
Connecting  at  the  Alban  point 

With  lightning  coaches,  west! 

And  bravely  hence,  unto  the  sound 

The  noonday  train  is  driven  ; 
Well   fitted   for  the  place,  the  man 

To  whom  command  is  given. 

A  man  who  drives  noon  coaches  south, 
Where  Woronoco  lays, 


84  OUR    CONDUCTORS. 

For  courage,  skill,  and  constancy, 
Deserves  our  hearty  praise. 

Like  music  in   an  even  song, 

Our  old  conductor,  tall  and  strong, 

For  years  has  run  his   train  along 

The  railway  up  the  mountain  route, 
Where  road  and  river  wind  about, 
And  beetling  cliffs  stand  jagged  out. 

From  valley,  up  the  hights,  away, 

To  where  Fort  Orange  greets  the  day, 

His  changeless,  constant  route  doth  lay. 

And  up  the  grade  by  morning  light, 
And  down  the  grade,  again,  at  night, 
His  course  has  been,  three  decades  quite. 


THE    "RIVER    ROAD." 

T  N  joyous  spring  or  winter  cold, 

And  in  the  autumn  sun, 
The  trains  upon  our  northern  route 
With  good  success  are  run. 

And,  bound  to  Methodistic  camp, 

Or  going  mountainward, 
On  picnics  bent,  or  politics, 

The  people  with  accord 

Declare  they  like  the  "  River  road," 

Its  managers  and  men  ; 
And  when  they  wish  another  ride, 

They'll  try  that  route  again. 


86  THE    "  RIVER    ROAD. 

And  so  the  pleasant  "tunnel  route" 

Is  worthy  well  a  line, 
For  able,  thorough,  management ; 

For  scenery  grand  and  fine. 


SUMMER    PLACES. 


BARRINGTON. 

AT  7KEN  next  the  heated  term  returns, 

And  high  the  summer  solstice  burns, 

Our  hearte  shall  find  serene  delight 

\ 
In  breezes  on  some  Berkshire  hight ; 

Or  by  that  pleasant  winding  stream, 
Whose  waters  'neath  the  willows  gleam, 
The  Housatonie  river,  blest, 
Whose  pleasant  yiurmur  giveth  rest. 
With  proper  preparation  done, 
We'll  drive  away  t\  Barrington  ; 
A  town  with  grandeV  mountain  charms, 
And  most  delightful  vylley  farms  ; 
Where  city  folk  the  summer  pass 
Amid  the  maples  and  th\  grass  ; 


90  BARRINGTON. 

Where  people  have  a  royal  way 
In  all  their  deeds  and  all  they  say  ; 
The  home  of  cultured  men  of  note, 
That  fine  old  town  where  Bryant  .vrote, 
And  Russell  delved  and  earned  Hs  gold, 
Nor  from  the  poor  did  wealth  vithhold  ; 
And  Leavitt  lives  'mid  paintings  rare  ; — 
A  town  where  river,  hill,  and  air, 
And  pleasant  vale,  and  stored  glen, 
And  noble  homes  of  noble  men, 
Bespeak  a  fit  resort  for  lings 
Or  they  who  come  to  u>  on  wings. 


TILDEN. 

TV  TEAR  "the  Junction,"  far  up  north, 
Are  many  scenes  of  rarest  worth. 
Across  the  river,  "  high  and  dry," 
Upon  a  mountain,  toward  the  sky, 
The  Tilden  school,  known  through  the  land, 
With  edifice,  complete  and  grand, 
Where  women  learn  selectest  truth, 
To  bless  them  in  the  days  of  youth, 
Equip  them  for  the  work  of  life, 
And  prove  of  choicest  blessings  rife. 
Around  this  school  the  pleasant  scene 
Shall  ever  be  in  memory  green. 
To  learners  there,  blest  evermore 


92  TILDEN. 

Be  hill,  and  dale,  and  willowed  shore ; 
The  bridge  that  spans  the  river  o'er ; 
And  all  the  scenery  grand  and  wild, 
Of  rock  and  hill  profusely  piled. 


UP    THE    PASSUMPSIC. 

A   LONG  the  verdant  upland  plains, 

How  pleasant  run  Passumpsic  trains  ; 
By  beechen  grove  and  rocky  glen, 
And  storied  haunt  of  Indian  men  ; 
By  cosy  farm,  'neath  craggy  hill, 
And  busy,  fragrant  lumber  mill; 
A  singing,  plashing  water-fall, 
And  clump  of  moaning  blackwood  tall ; 
Trim  alders  by  the  purling  brook, 
And  sugar  maples  in  the  nook, 
Whence  fleecy  smoke  and  joyous  shout 
In  early  spring  comes  floating  out ; 
And  ample  fields  of  ripening  maize, 
And  orchards  rich  on  autumn  days; 


94  UP    THE    PASSUMPSIC. 

And  roads  where  drive  the  happy  sleighs, 
When  brave  King  Boreas  grandly  plays — 
Along  the  northern  vales  and  plains, 
How  pleasant  run  Passumpsic  trains. 


"ISRAEL'S    RIVER." 

OTILL  farther  north  a  pleasant  vale, 

Where  "  Israel's  River "  singeth  well ; 
Where  noble  hills  the  vale  surround, 
And  men  of  chivalry  are  found, 
Whose  impulses  are  like  the  god's ; 
Who  do  brave  deeds,  whate'er  the  odds. 
The  village  is  the  county  seat, 
Where  lawyers  for  their  business  meet ; 
Yet  quiet  and  delightful  town, 
In  summer  and  when  summer  's  flown  ; 
So  grandly  winter  holds  his  sway, 
The  people  have  a  regal  way ; 
And  pity  much  the  dwellers  where 
They  never  know  the  northern  air, 


96  "  ISRAEL'S  RIVER." 

But  pine  beneath  the  southern  skies 

In  lowlands  where  diseases  rise. 

Within  this  vale  of  Lancaster, 

How  pleasant  summer  sunsets  are  ; 

How  sweet  the  rays  fall  on  the  hills, 

On  cottage,  river,  glen  and  rills. 

Within  this  happy  northern  vale 

My  summer  visit  shall  not  fail. 

In  walks  the  \varbling  streams  along, 

With  joy  induced  by  their  calm  song, 

My  days  shall  pleasant  come  and  go, 

As  brooklets  over  pebbles  flow. 

In  converse  with  the  noble  men 

Who  bless  these  homes  and  know  each  glen, 

I  shall  surmise  on  earth,  again, 

The  sainted  have  returned  to  dwell, 

And  of  the  upper  regions  tell, 


"  ISRAEL'S  RIVER." 

Which  Lancaster,  in  hill  and  dell, 
And  stream  and  sky,  doth  equal  well. 
There  happy  be  the  marriage  bell ; 
Infrequent  sound  the  funeral  knell ; 
Nor  iron  fact  the  bard  compel 
To  sing  that  evil  luck  befell 
The  place  where  men  and  gods  combine 
To  build  a  town  of  grand  design. 


THE    AMMONOOSUC. 

T  N  autumn  days  and  summer  suns, 
How  wild  the  Ammonoosuc  runs, 
'Mid  varied  scene  of  bold  rocks,  tall, 
And  plunging,  dashing  waterfall. 
Next,  far  receding,  craggy  dell  ; 
7 


98  THE    AMMONOOSUC. 

Anon  a  fertile  intervale ; 

And  then,  to  use  the  plunging  flood, 

Is  busy  mill  on  ledges  stood, 

For  things  of  grain,  or  leather  good, 

Or  articles  carved  out  of  wood. 

Then  southward  pass,  and  travel  back, 

Along  the  pleasant  Merrimac  ; 

And  through  the  grand  old  Granite  State, 

New  England,  all,  so  small,  yet  great, 

We  learn  from  car,  and  mill,  and  mine, 

And  dwelling  built  of  neat  design, 

Our  land  has  greatness  from  the  fact, 

That,  perseveringly,  with  tact, 

Its  sons  improve  resources  given  ; 

While  special  blessings  come  from  heaven 

To  crown  their  labors,  and  to  fill 

Their  homes  with  good,  hewn  by  their  skill. 


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